Anyone attempting graduate school with a chronic disease?

[hejduk]

I currently have a back disorder (thank my parents!), and will be starting my PhD this fall. I'm interested in how these afflictions have affected your graduate studies (not hanging out as much, extra need for sleep, etc).

I know that when I was in my MA, I needed mucho extra sleep just to keep up with social requirements. Due to my bad back, and the fact that my grad classes were all night classes, I'd have to get up and leave before break just to take a stretch.

Anyone else dealing with chronic condition, or feel like it's hindering your studies in some way?

Edited April 26, 2011 by hedjuk

[switch]

Try to keep your problem to yourself as much as possible. Sometimes it's better restricting personal information.

[mechengr2000]

I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder my senior year of undergrad (i.e. this last year). It made things difficult, as I had to sleep 16 hours a day. I informed my professors, ***in detail***, and they were very accommodating. It was also a mental battle for me, because I wanted to give up and use my disease as an excuse to stop trying. It was a very difficult part of my life. Typical recovery time is 3-5 years, so I still have at least 2 years to go. I am starting my Phd this summer. Symptoms are much better, im at 85% of my full health.

What specific concerns do you have? Can you elaborate on how your back problems will affect you? What would an otherwise healthy version of you be able to do that you cannot currently do?

[hejduk]

I think my biggest issue is that my back condition requires me to have a really good office chair, so I'll have to wheel that fancy thing into my campus office, while my fellow students stare and wonder, "Why does he get the great chair!??" The other thing is that I'll probably bring a small back support to classes, especially night classes. If the chairs are god awful (which they tend to be in classrooms), then the back support will be in tow.

I can appreciate switch's advice, and I'm not purposefully publicizing my health issue, but just wondering how people have dealt with their own situations. Honestly, it's that kinda of attitude ("keep your issues to yourself") that really alienates a lot of people with health issues. If not safe in academia, where then? Grad school is taxing enough, and dealing with health issues, while maintaining some sense of "normalcy" can be a struggle in itself.

Edited April 26, 2011 by hejduk

[IRdreams]

My step sister was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she started grad school. She seems to be on time so I think it is doable, but she has an indomitable amount of energy too.

[thesnout]

Thanks for starting this thread. I'm starting grad school this year and recovering from a serious rare illness. I'm a little scared about the demands of grad school, social life, etc. I only need about 8-9 hrs of sleep so I should be good to go. I walk with a cane still and look really young for my age so my illness is out in the open for all to see. I get stared at a lot anyway so I'm use to it.

I would love to hear move stories about how people are coping with chronic conditions and grad school.

Thanks.

[psycholinguist]

I can appreciate switch's advice, and I'm not purposefully publicizing my health issue, but just wondering how people have dealt with their own situations. Honestly, it's that kinda of attitude ("keep your issues to yourself") that really alienates a lot of people with health issues. If not safe in academia, where then? Grad school is taxing enough, and dealing with health issues, while maintaining some sense of "normalcy" can be a struggle in itself.

I agree with this. Don't worry about what people might be thinking when it comes to office-chairs and such: if they're annoyed, they'll ask someone, and get the truth. For everyone who needs a cane, a wheelchair, an insulin-pump, a back-support, a whatever: use it as much as you need to, and nonchalantly. These things do exactly what they're meant to do: they compensate for health-issues so that those affected by them can lead normal lives. (Hey, quick poll time: how many people here are wearing glasses/contacts? * grins *) In other words, go for it! Pretty well everyone knows what it's like to be ill and/or injured and/or otherwise restricted by physical limitations; if you act as if your health-aids are no big deal, they'll come across as no big deal.

[amandacarol1215]

I can completely relate to the back problems. I have a chronic pain condition and it affects my back. I have a problem sitting for a long time, and I have handled this by just letting any instructors know that I may have a hard time sitting for a long time (over an hour). It is not uncommon to see me standing at the back of the classroom. It was something that I wrote about in my personal statement as it has truly affected my education and I have had countless surgeries to try and work with my pain. Additionally, I am in treatment that involves having surgery 3-4 times per year to reduce pain. I'm more concerned about finding a doctor that is familiar with my chronic pain condition than how my cohort views me....